Salmon party dispute heats up: Prosecutors say Lee Hwa-young changed his story, defense asks for holistic view

A "salmon drinking party" has become a central point of contention in the trial of former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young. Prosecutors allege Lee fabricated details about consuming salmon sashimi and soju in a prosecutor's office, while Lee maintains the event occurred.

During a jury trial at the Suwon District Court, prosecutors highlighted inconsistencies in Lee's accounts regarding the date, location, and participants of the alleged gathering. They pointed out that Lee initially claimed to have drunk alcohol but later stated he only tasted it, and the duration of the event also varied between 30 minutes and two hours.

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The defendant's statements are consistently differing from previous accounts in important aspects.

Lee's defense team acknowledged minor memory discrepancies but argued that these should not overshadow the overall context of the case. They presented evidence such as prosecutor's office access logs, visitor records, and convenience store payment details related to the alleged purchase of alcohol. The defense also noted that a polygraph test administered by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office indicated a high level of credibility in Lee's statements.

Prosecutors, however, countered that polygraph tests have limitations, especially in the early stages of an investigation. The jury visited the specific prosecutor's office where the alleged party took place. The court is scheduled to continue hearing testimony from two prison guards who accompanied Lee at the time.

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Minor memories can waver. We acknowledge that the defendant has some inconsistencies in small details, but we must look at the whole picture.